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Arts & Entertainment

2012 Funniest Fed Competition Comes to The State Theatre

Don't miss this unique comedy competition for federal government employees

Get ready for some federal government employees to tickle your funny bone! The State Theatre will host the 2012 Funniest Fed Competition tonight at 7 p.m. The contest is designed to give federal government employees the chance to show their chops on the local comedy circuit.

“I love working with folks who are excited to try comedy for the first time,” said Naomi Johnson, the producer of the competition. “There is an absolute thrill to get onstage and hear the laughter. Everything else melts away.”

The Alexandria resident has worked for the federal government for 10 years and performed standup off and on for 21 years. In 2003, she returned to standup comedy after taking several years off and kept meeting comics who were also federal government employees. She came up with the name “Funniest Fed” and by May 2007, the competition was up and running.

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Each year, Johnson selects 30 comics to compete. She looks for smart, clean humor as well as stage presence and creativity. She handpicks local comics, comedy club owners, humor columnists and improv actors to serve on a panel of three to four judges who score comics on creativity, comedic timing, stage presence and audience response. The audience gets to vote but each judge’s vote is weighed more heavily.

Johnson has noticed an eagerness to learn the craft of standup in each of the competing comics.

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“These folks tend to be smart, critical thinkers who are well-read and well-informed about current events and very well-educated,” she said. “As a group, I think they are more likely than most typical standup comics to think beyond the easy or crude joke. That is the easy way out. And while their jokes may not be perfect, especially the new comics, they seem very willing to try to find a clever way to approach what might be a typical comedic presence.” 

The Funniest Fed competition is a unique brand of stand-up in the sense that most of the comics are new to the field. Johnson said they’re not yet jaded by the comedy scene and how competitive it can be.

“It is fabulous to see them light up when they get a new joke or a new way to say an old joke,” she said. “Its very fun and regarding to see them figuring it all out and learning how one little word can make a standard joke into something tremendously funny.” 

Johnson recommends the show to anyone who likes smart, clean and clever humor and said you won't have to worry about hearing lots of vulgar material.   

“It certainly appeals to a much wider audience than the title would suggest,” she said. “Of course there are some jokes geared for Feds specifically but by and large the material is about standard comedic subjects: losing weight, getting older, raising kids, deal with aging parents, dating and relationships. It’s the whole gamut.”

If you can’t make it to tonight’s show, come back to the State Theatre on June 13 for the semi-finals or head to the Lincoln Theatre on June 22 for the finals hosted by standup comedian Tig Notaro. The talented comic is known for her appearances on Conan, Jimmy Fallon, Comedy Central, NPR's "This American Life" and NBC’s “The Office" and "Community."

The Funniest Fed Competition is sponsored by GEICO and 20 percent of sales are donated to the Wounded Warrior Project. 

Wednesday, May 23, 5:30 p.m. doors and 7 p.m. show; $12-$15
220 N. Washington St.; (703) 237-0300 

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